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Klobuchar Calls for Expansion of Veterinarian Services for Underserved Rural Areas

Says bill will address critical shortages in veterinarians to care for large animals, like livestock

September 24, 2009

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar along with Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Jon Thune (R-SD) introduced the Veterinary Services Investment Act, a bipartisan bill to help increase the number of food-animal veterinarians in rural areas.  Currently, many communities, especially rural communities, are struggling with a shortage of large animal veterinarians to care for livestock.   The legislation would address this shortage by giving grants to states and veterinary schools to improve care in underserved areas and encourage more students to study veterinarian science. 

Minnesota is one of the states that faces a critical shortage in veterinarians.  Five counties have only one livestock veterinarian for every 100,000 farm animals.  Six counties have only one food-animal veterinarian for every 25,000 heads of livestock, and Blue Earth County has only food-animal veterinarian for 550,000 food animals.  

“We must address the critical shortage of veterinarians who can care for large animals,” said Klobuchar.  “Veterinarians provide crucial services to our livestock, to our agricultural industry and to our rural communities.  With this legislation, we can give states the resources they need to address this shortage and make sure our animals get the care they need.”

The decline in veterinarians not only threatens the health of livestock, but makes it harder to diagnose diseases that could spread from animals to humans and address outbreaks in rural areas that could endanger the nation’s food supply. 

The Veterinary Services Investment Act will provide grants that can be used for a broad range of services that include:

•    Veterinarian and veterinarian tech recruitment
•    Assistance for veterinarians to expand and establish practices in high need areas
•    Establish mobile/portable clinics and tele-vet services
•    Surveillance of food animal disease and the utilization of veterinary services
•    Expand residency coordination in states that do not have an accredited veterinary college
•    Facilitate training in food safety and food animal medicine
•    Continuing education, including distance education

The bill is co-authored by Senators Grassley (R-IA), Johnson (D-SD), Cochran (R-MS), Barrasso (R-WY), Chambliss (R-GA), Isakson (R-GA), Tester (D-MT).  In addition to bipartisan support, the bill is endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, American Farm Bureau, Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Milk Producers, Animal Health Institute, National Turkey Federation, and the National Pork Producers.



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